Greasing your end loader?

[dodge man]

Might sound like a dumb question but how much grease do you put in the pins on your end loader? I put in enough grease until I see a little ooze out the joint. Often it seems like the grease comes out one side easier than the other. No matter how much you pump in, it still just comes out one side.

 

[jeff9366]

In my opinion, you have enough grease in the pin. Loader movement will spread it around.

Having said that, when I identify one or two pins grease resistant, I reposition the loader in lift and tilt, then reapply the grease gun coupler and pump in a bit more to the resistant pins.

Infrequently, I put the bucket on the ground with just a little down pressure, which reverses weight distribution on pins relative to bucket in the air, and encourages grease to enter the stubborn pins.

Pins that do not want to take grease one time, may accept grease normally on the next greasing occasion.

My FEL manual calls for greasing every ten hours of use. As new grease is soft, but grease exposed to air gradually congeals, then hardens, the best way to prevent plugged Zerks is to grease regularly, with the new grease pushing out the old. Under perfect circumstances old, dirty grease will be wiped off the pin trunnions with a paper towels and a weak solvent.

WD-40 and Simple Green, are both convenient solvents for removing old, dry, dirty grease with paper towels.

A Lock & Lube grease gun coupler is a worthwhile investment. I use a full size, manual Lincoln grease gun taking standard molly grease cartridges, with a coupler.

 

[s219]

Usually 4-5 pumps until I see it squirt out somewhere.

 

[rScotty]

That's all good info. I've never used a grease coupler, but may give it a try. A google search led me to a LockNLube video online which shows one impressive type of positive grease coupler. And made me feel a little out of date...

Overall, for most of the loader work I do the front end loader pivots don't need much grease or very often. Maybe twice a year....I Agree with Jeff about reversing the pressure on a difficult joint. But sometimes a zerk just won't take grease at all. Usually that means that grease has hardened in one of the internal pathways. A propane torch on the pin will sometimes loosen things up. There are impact guns for that purpose but I've no experience with them.

What I do have experience with is several different kinds of greases. More than one company makes a good translucent red or tan automoive grease that is reasonably sticky, doesn't stain, and lubes OK. They all seem to be decent. Or if you want, check out you JD Ag tractor dealer and get ready to be amazed at the grease selection. I like JD's general pupose green grease for most places along with their "cornhead grease' for for the lower bucket pins. These are exceptionally sticky greases that stay in the joint and don't squeeze out too much....but can still be cleaned up with soap and water without staining.

For pure lubricity, of course that nasty Black Moly grease is the best grease I've ever found for highly loaded joints, but it is also the worst about leaking out and staining everything it touches. Wonderful & terrible stuff. I keep one grease gun for use exclusively for nasty black moly grease. That gun lives alone in its own plastic container. I'm happier if I don't have to use it. None of our loaders have joints are loaded heavily enough to tempt me towards moly although sometimes I'll use it on caterpillar tracks or the main table pivot of our big backhoe.

stay loose,
rScotty

 

[Thomas]

I pump until I see new grease.

 

[GMIslander]

EP grease and cordless electric gun with a 18" hose. You must get some on you or it's insufficient. It is troubling to see all the pretty tractor pictures with no grease showing! Merry Christmas

 

[Looking4new]

Might sound like a dumb question but how much grease do you put in the pins on your end loader? I put in enough grease until I see a little ooze out the joint. Often it seems like the grease comes out one side easier than the other. No matter how much you pump in, it still just comes out one side.

That is the way I do it.

 

[dodge man]

Like mentioned above, it seems like a I use the loader, grease gets spread around and over time, it's coming out both sides of the joint.

 

[Gordon Gould]

It is troubling to see all the pretty tractor pictures with no grease showing! Merry Christmas

X2 ^^ especially the Merry Christmas !

I had my tractor back to the dealers once. He took a look at all the grease and said "Nice to see that you take care of it. You would be amazed at how many come back here that have never seen any grease"

gg

 

[Looking4new]

I had my tractor back to the dealers once. He took a look at all the grease and said "Nice to see that you take care of it. You would be amazed at how many come back here that have never seen any grease"
gg

Grease and oil are the 'lifeblood' of equipment! And way cheaper than pins and motors!